The family of the man who killed six people in a horrifying knife attack in a Sydney shopping mall recognised him on TV footage of the atrocity.
In a statement released today the family of the killer, who attacked shoppers at random on Saturday afternoon described his actions as “horrific” and said he had suffered mental health issues “since he was a teenager”.
Police have named the attacker as Joel Cauchi, 40, from Queensland, adding that he was known to police, but had not been arrested or charged before he committed the murders on Saturday afternoon.
The lone knifeman attacked shoppers at the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction in the east of Sydney on Saturday afternoon killing six people with 12 more rushed to hospital in the sickening attack. Police said they do not think the attack was motivated by terrorism.
In a statement the Cauchi family said: “We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time.”
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Footage and pictures of Joel Cauchi's attack taken by members of the public quickly made their way onto the TV newsThe statement, released through Queensland Police: “Joel’s actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened. He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.
“We are in contact with both the New South Wales Police Force and Queensland Police Service and have no issues with the police officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others, and we hope she is coping alright.”
Cauchi was shot and killed by a lone police officer, Inspector Amy Scott, who followed directions from fleeing shoppers to track down the killer and subdue him - she has been hailed as a hero for halting his bloody rampage.
Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley (R) lays a floral tribute at Oxford Street Mall alongside Westfield Bondi Junction on April 14 (Getty Images)Cauchi was described as “itinerant” by Queensland Police assistant commissioner Roger Lowe in a press briefing. He added the 40-year-old had not been “prosecuted or arrested or charged for any offence within Queensland” and said the force was assisting police in New South Wales with investigations.
“He has been in contact with the police, primarily in the last four to five years would be the most contact we have had with him. During that contact we are aware that this individual has suffered from mental health,” said Mr Lowe.
The knifeman’s family has cooperated with police, Mr Lowe said, adding they had sent a message to the New South Wales police “with respect to support the police officer who has killed their son and are expressing their concerns for her welfare”. Mr Lowe said the family contacted authorities when they saw footage of the attack on television.
Police in New South Wales have been investigating Cauchi’s life and past - they said he moved to Sydney a month before the attack and fired a “very small” storage container in Sydney which police have “worked through”.
Four women and a man in his 30s, a security guard at the shopping centre, died at the scene. Ashlee Good, 38, died in hospital after being attacked. Her nine-month-old daughter Harriet was injured in the attack and a statement from Ms Good’s family provided to Australian broadcaster ABC said the child is “doing well”.
The 25-year-old daughter of Australian businessman John Singleton, Dawn, has been named as one of the victims by various media outlets. Two of the victims are from overseas and police are attempting to contact their families.
A further 11 people are receiving treatment in hospitals around Sydney for different injuries. A 12th casualty was discharged from hospital on Sunday.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the “extraordinary” bravery of people at the shopping centre during the attack.
“We see the footage of ordinary Australians putting themselves in harm’s way in order to help their fellow citizens,” he said. “That bravery was quite extraordinary that we saw yesterday, the best of Australians amidst this extraordinary tragedy.”
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